Fabrication and Characterization of Visible Light active Fe-TiO2 Nanocomposites as Nanophotocatalyst

Abstract

<em> In this research Fe-TiO₂ nanocomposites with different molar ratios of Fe/Ti were prepared as nano-photocatalyst using a modified Sol-Gel process at ambient temperature. </em><em>Crystallographic properties of nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD). Surface morphology and mean particle size of nanocomposites were specified by Field</em><em> Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and light absorption spectrum of nanocomposites was evaluated by Diffuse Reflectance Spectra (DRS). XRD patterns revealed that Fe³⁺ is successfully substituted by Ti⁴⁺ in TiO₂ lattice and no rutile phase is present in nanocomposites. From FESEM images it was specified that mean particle size of nanocomposites changed in the range of 28-47nm and narrow size distribution was seen. DRS analysis represented that by doping of Fe into the TiO₂ lattice, light absorption spectrum of TiO₂ shifted to visible light spectrum and led to decrement in energy band gap of TiO₂.</em><em>Band gap of nano-photocatalysts was in the range of 1.98-2.89 eV.</em>